Map of Territories of Islamic Empire under Various Dynasties

Timeline

520 The Decimal System of mathematics is invented by Indian
mathematians. The ten digits we use today are called Arabic numerals
in English; however, they are called Hindu numerals in the Arabic
language, which is more accurate.

630 Conquest of Mecca by an army of 10,000 men,
assembled by Mohammed.

632 Death of Mohammed; tribe of Thaqif adopts Islam;
the first year of the Islamic calendar.

Many tribes on the Arabian Peninsula unite by
discarding their tribal religions, accepting Islam and joining together to
form a military alliance. Together they formed a Muslim army and conquered
neighboring kingdoms. The monotheistic teachings of Mohammad seemed to
resonate with these peoples; they quickly abandoned their tribal religions
in favor of Islam. In the next 1200 years, the growth of Islam is astonishing;
the total percentage of the Muslim population in the word increases by
more than 1% every 100 years.

632 - 661 Period of rule by the four
"Rightly Guided Caliphs Abu Bakr (632 - 634), Umar (634 - 644),
Uthman (644 - 656), and Ali (656 - 661).
Each of these Caliphs had known Muhammed personally, which gave
them authority. This period is called the Rashidun Caliphate.

Conquests

Date

Conquest

635

Damascus, Syria

637

Jerusalem, Palestine

642

Alexandria, Egypt

643

Barqa, Palestine

647

Tripoli, Libya

661 Rise of the Umayyads.
Damascus established as Umayyad capitol. Succession of Caliphate becomes
hereditary.

721 - 805 Jabir ibn Haiyan, alchemist, pharmacist,
philosopher, and mathematician, is known as the
"father of chemistry."

749 Rise of the Abbasids.
Abu al-Abbas becomes Caliph. His title is
"Commander of the Faithful." One of the Umayyads escapes to Spain
and becomes Caliph in Spain in 756.
Art flourished during the time of the Umayyads.

Depiction of persons or animals was discouraged in religions paintings to
avoid idol worship.

Depicting Muhammad himself was particularly offensive.

Calligraphy for religious texts in Arabic script was highly prized.

Artwork depicting geometric shapes and plants was encouraged.

751 Paper-making spreads to the Islamic world.

762 Abbasids move their capital to Baghdad.

770 Great mosque in Cordoba built.

780 - 850 Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, mathematician
and astonomer, adopts Indian
numerals. Known as the "father of algebra."

875 Abbas ibn Firnas, chemist, physicist, and
astronomer, constructs the first glider at age 70 and launches himself from
a mountan. He dies 12 years later from injuries incured by the
crash landing.

900 Abu Nasir al-Farabi, philosopher and scientist,
write a book on music that is still used as a reference for Arabic
music today.

976 Al-Azhar university is founded in Cairo.

980 - 1048 Abu Ali al-Hysayn ibn Abd Allah ibn Sina,
physician, philosopher, and scientist, is known as
"the father of modern medicine."